We understand, through experience.

Natalee Ward, Balliang Director
Natalee Ward, Balliang Director

Natalee Ward
Director

Natalee Ward is an experienced strategic communications and media advisor specialising in agriculture, working closely with local and global organisations to help them to mitigate risks, manage reputation, and share their brand stories.

Her experience spans all sectors across Australian agriculture, from pork production, aquaculture and almonds, to export markets, foreign investment, water entitlements and forestry.

Natalee has supported organisations including Yumbah Aquaculture, Pact Group, LandMarkWhite, OneFortyOne Plantations, VicForest, Elders, Australian Pork Ltd, MLA, Hort Innovation, Seafood Industry Australia, Wine Australia, Dairy Australia, Agribusiness Australia and Wheen Bee Foundation as well as State and Commonwealth governments.

She has also provided support for the Victorian Government in Emergency Recovery, leading communications between government, the agriculture industry and rural and regional communities recovering from bushfire, floods, storms, drought and the coronavirus pandemic, also providing support in preparation to manage an Emergency Animal Disease outbreak.

In her earlier years, Natalee spent more than two decades as an award-winning journalist, starting in rural newspapers in Echuca and Shepparton and later at The Weekly Times. She’s held positions including magazines editor, business operations manager and deputy editor, and was the first woman to be appointed editor of the media outlet in its 150 years. 

She was born and raised on a farm, has an MBA from the Melbourne Business School, is married to journalist and bike tour magnate Murray, has two sons and runs marathons for fun.

Tess Astle, Balliang Consultant
Tess Astle, Balliang Consultant

Tess Astle
Communications Consultant Program Manager

Tess is a trusted communications consultant with a unique blend of experience across government, agriculture, human rights issues and not-for-profits.

She works closely with organisations to understand their communications requirements, with a keen eye for detail and deadlines across campaigns and ongoing programs. As Program Manager, she brings a sharp ability to quickly understand how an organisation works and deliver comprehensive, well-coordinated communications that meet their needs. Tess holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Journalism and Human Rights, with Honours.

Black and white portrait of a young man with dark hair, glasses, and a striped button-up shirt, smiling and standing against a plain background.
Black and white portrait of a young man with dark hair, glasses, and a striped button-up shirt, smiling and standing against a plain background.

Ben Noonan
Head of Creative Services

Ben combines strategic thinking with creative execution to help organisations build stronger brands, engage audiences and communicate with clarity.

He leads creative and digital communications projects across agriculture, not-for-profits and corporate sectors, delivering integrated campaigns spanning social media, website strategy, out-of-home, video production, EDMs, digital advertising and SEO, AEO and GEO. Ben specialises in translating complex topics into clear, audience-focused communications backed by strong strategic and data-driven thinking. He is currently studying Law and Commerce at the Australian National University.

A young woman with long wavy hair smiling, wearing a black top and layered necklaces, standing with arms crossed in front of a plain wall.
A young woman with long wavy hair smiling, wearing a black top and layered necklaces, standing with arms crossed in front of a plain wall.

Isabel Milincic
Communications Consultant

Isabel brings creativity, quick thinking and meticulous attention to detail to every communications challenge she takes on.

She specialises in strategic corporate communications, risk management, social media content and media relations. Isabel previously worked as a communications consultant in the education sector, and holds a Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) from Deakin University.

Black and white photo of a woman with her arms crossed, smiling, wearing a sleeveless top and earrings, standing against a plain light-colored wall.
Black and white photo of a woman with her arms crossed, smiling, wearing a sleeveless top and earrings, standing against a plain light-colored wall.

Annabel Hay
Communications Consultant

Annabel turns ideas into compelling stories through content creation and graphic design, shaping the way audiences connect with a message.

She produces EDMs, social media video and stills, and web content, and is proficient across a range of design programs — bringing both creative and strategic thinking to every project. Annabel holds a Bachelor of Design and Visual Communications from Victoria University of Wellington.

A young man with dark, wet hair wearing a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, smiling and crossing his arms, standing against a plain wall.
A young man with dark, wet hair wearing a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, smiling and crossing his arms, standing against a plain wall.

Will Johnson
Communications Consultant

Will approaches communications challenges methodically, practically and with a clear eye on what actually works.

He brings strong critical thinking with a particular focus on the agriculture sector, including practical communications work supporting farm crisis response training and primary producers. Will is currently studying a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sydney.

ASCII art portrait of a person with a beard and mustache, wearing glasses, facing slightly to the right.